Convertible service system



H. o. B'IIIGHAM.

CONVERTIBLE SERVICE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED M Av 5, 1920.

1 Patented Feb. 22, 1921,

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

, im, w ,//f l I I H. o. BRIGHAM.vv CONVERTIBLE SERVICE SYSTEM.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 51920.-

Patented Feb. 22,1921.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 'T0 all whom 'it may concern,

`UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE'.-

HERBERT o. Baier-IAM, or PROVIDENCE, 'RHODE isLnNn.

coNvnn'riBL'E SERVICE SYSTEM.

Be it known that I, HERBERT BRIGHM,

a citizen of vthe United Sta-tes, residing aty Providence, in the count-y of. Providence,

Statexoii' Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in `Con` vertible Service Systems, of which the iollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in convertible or interchangeable service-systems for stores, markets, restaurants, refec` toi-ies, mess-halls, dormitories, barracks, lec# Vture-halls, manufacturing plants, school buildings and other similar establishments or institutions.

One object ofthe yinvention is to malley available 1for more continuoususe property or premises having a high rental value.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide an improved system for the more eco# nomica-l utilization of space in buildingsde* votedto merchandising or other service to` the public.

Another object of theV inventionv is to adapt such a system for schools and colleges vto provide for a more continuous use of purposes same in cross-section;V-

Fig. 3, an end View of the same invcross@ y y l space in the forward part of the building,r

usually .fronting on va street or' avenue to section; and I i y Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7, enlarged detail views of various types of interchangeable units of furniture and fixtures tem.` In certain circumstances many buildings or premises are in use only a part of the day Y while its serving occurs onlyduring specilied hours. Usually the space reserved -for serving food to patrons occupies the front of the building where the rental charge is Fig. 2, a longitudinalv elevation of thev Vfor use with'the sys` Application inea may 5V, 1920. semi 11705379424.

relatively high and therefore ,siimia use Specification of Letters Patent; Patented 22V, 192L of such space entailsv an economic lossi.-v

Likewise, infschools, halls, public buildings, and other institutions the space may be used only a portionof the day or evening; while inwdormitories, barracks, or the like, the

space is' only utilized at night and remains idlethroughout the day."

Y To provide' fora more complete utilization of such property or premises I havede vised ay method of dual usage which Iy have chosen to term a biise'rvice system. For the purpose of this description, .property orpremises shall be ldefined to include build ings of all kinds, floating property `such as boats or ships, open air spaces, inclosed areas and all such other places as may be used, orv available for use, for various and sundry purposes as herein described or otherwise suggested.

, vStated brieiiyr'my improved system contemplates the converting of the'pro erty or premises to different uses by the empln of interchangeable units of furniture, fixoyment turesor othervapparatus and appurtenances which may be easily and conveniently shifted from one location to another forexample, from a Storage'space to the place of `use such las a store, restaurant, or otherz mer= chandising establishment, and back tosto'r'- age again to make the space available for' different appal othery uses by substitution of ratus.

For the purpose of illustrating one embodiment of the invention Fig. ,l shows the floor plan of a building suitable for use' as a store or other merchandising establishment and convertible to other uses by means of my improved system.. Referring to this view of the drawings, the reference characterl A designates the main store or service vThe rear storage room or space B may be of any convenient size and arrangement and is usually at least as large as thefront room and preferably of greater area. VThe two rooms or spaces may be separated by a folding partition'or may have a fire-wall be tween them in which are suitablev openings ioo ' doors or othersuitable barriers arranged in the manner and forthpurpose as later exf plained.

For the vrapidfand convenient` of store iiirtures,furniture, seating facilities andfoth'er apparatusused'in connection with c 'the' selling or serving of food, foodstuffs and other merchandise orl commodities, or it for; substitution of appurtenances employed fo1.':.-,thepurposes. of recreation, exercise,

study, sleep or work, Ifmake use'of mechaniy cal l,transferringmeans kas next lzdescribedg.

-` In oneforin', 'as shown inFigZ. V1, these lmeans f may; consist- -in tracks,y trolleys orrunWa-ys designated@andz trucks or carrlers 5 travel- 7 able thereon. K

f 4l are. laid in-parallel relation runningy.from

the storage spacelor rear room rB tothe frontl room AV through doorways in the ypartition As here illustrated lthe tracks 12. Thesedoorwaysl'A may be closednby swingingorlsliding `doors which x are here"y shown.l Tini conventional"fornir 'and desigL y l I v l eXit .doorway 24-atjthe opposite sidejof the 9"() V` vfront space QOWhenV reserved foraccounting c n v y.may beseparated from the mainportion ofi'- angedgzfva's show nin Fig. 5, to. retain` them"- jThe trucks 5 may consist of suitableplatiforms or chassis 8 mounted'on rollersor'wheels 9 :which are preferably in place on the parallel railslO'of the'tracks The.rai'lsfflO.v arefvlaid in groovesbrrunoftheyfloorin the vroomxr,y so that the plat- :forms or chassis Sfofithe trucks 5 will-ride' aboveor level, with the flooring tobridge `The ooringin the-rear roomfB may orimay notberaised above .the :.tracks,xthis feature not being? of irriportan'cel inthe storageispace forv 'the trucksy -If desired, 'suitable 'means may be employed Vfor locking, the trucks' in fixed relation on the tracks 4 in their position of use gfbutsuchrneansare not herein' illustrated" astheyform `no part ofthe pres Th'efcarsor Etrilcks .V5 may `embody any suitable designer-structure with their plati fo1'ms8adap`tedt carry 'the furniture; fixableadjustable-clamps or fastening-means, vnot'herein shown,A to renuilerV them finterchangeable thereon.y As illustrated-in Figs,

, partmentsc forfoodstuffs, merchandise or',`

`Ytures, or ykother 'apparatus as required. These latter magy be permanently affixed tothe plat# forms i8; orrmay be attachedA thereto by suit- 1, 2 and 3, ythetrucks 5 carry` counters 12 Whichmay contain shelving, binsfor coniother products; ori-they may carry shovw cases constructed off glass l in they form of e combinationvcountersf f v Invthedetail views, l Fig-5.14 and illusl trate the trucks as mounting lunch-counters 14-havingj the usual seating-stools and foot-rails 16 attached-to their` sides.

In Fig. 6 theplatform 8 of the truck serves as thel iiooring kfor combination` desks and seats 17 or the truclrmight carry'suitable ta'bles'and chairs. l:Figi 7 showsv still another made to .provide apparatus and appurte-'i nances v for othcrfusesgvfor instance, operav is chairs,V equipment for gymnasiums and `simic i' lar devices could bei carried. onthe trucks; y

VReferringagain to Figs. .1, `2 rand-3, a prie?V ferred plan of'la-yout ofthe frontroom `for display and lmerchandising--purposesiem-A i bodies va' suitableV arrangement of. shelving on the 'side-Walls as shown conventionallyl at 19. The area designatedQO may `be utilized for ashowwindoiv at the front of thestore Y K v or fitted as an oiiicefor accountinglrooin. 1 This space is shoy'vn'asdeined at one sidefbyav fixed counter 21 which forms afn.'entrancef Vvlobby 22 communicating with a vdoorway 23 'givingxonto the streetqa't the'front'of the?.v

building. vIn somef instances I provide lan building as indicated by dash lines.Vv The trackscomprises a single spur: adjacent each side Wallvvvith .space for the clerks or salespeople tofjstand lbehind the counters placed Y on-,the tracks,'a1id withpairs-of other spurs A is` givenrvover'to the spur-tracksfdgwhich extend out through the" doorways 6 in par-v y 'lallel relation to the-side Wallsio'f the buildj!A Y 'i ing.` A convenient arrangement offthe arranged across the remaining space :in the room.v Preferably, the pairs or twiny tracksections 'r4 are soflspaced .as .to provide room for `the sales-people between two Vrows oflopposite counters, and Wider` aisles 27 for cusfrf'VV` tomers between thepairs of countersp? As@ Y illustrated 111 il* 1g.11, a: preferredfariange-f ment of the tracks'includes eXtensionsQB of the spur-sections4 running into the'storageroom B Withsuitable crossover-s or 'switches 29 connectingrthe same. YThe track-'exteu i sions 28' lead intoalateral cross-:track 30 at the rear ofthe room B and this'latter-.isexi tended'in loops 31 followingy around the 1 Asides ofzthe building and'leadinginto. the

front spurs at 32. f.-The spaceA Within the il loops 31 may be utilized for kitchens ffor the'VV 1 p preparation ofrffoodft'o be suppliedvto'rthe lunch-counters on the truckstbefore they are Wheeled into the front room; or they "may serve as transfer stationsfor loading?? the f 'I i trucksV with other Y. commodities.'y lnfsome i lcasesthe rear room B, which AIYterinithe .sWing-room, maya serve las 4thestoragle sets of velevators or hoists.`

ycarriers 5 are transferred from the storage or supply base to the spur-tracks 4 by elevators, ramps, or vthe like.V operated With traveling-chainsor belts, l:

The method offmakinguse` ot' my im- ,proved convertible service-system in `one of its embodiments is substantially as follows: F or an example of the Working of thesystem me may considerthe space A to .bel Vemployed as la combination store and restau.- rant or lunch-room. 2 Supposing' thel store to be for the sale of groceries or` otheiuiood products-the heaviest requirements of tradef Would bein the early' morning. hours, say between eight and eleven oclock. -During this period the spur-tracks 4 will beoccupied by trucks v5 carrying counters or show-cases drawn from the space A by moving theA l2, as illustrated lin Figs` l, 2 and 3, the latter having been supplied with the goods for sale before leaving the swing-room B. Nowas midday approaches, say at eleven A. bi., some of'the counters 12 are Withtrucks .into the 4swing-room B and other true rs substituted in their` place to provide lunch-counters l-las illustrated in Fig. 4. The interchange of the fixtures inay'take place gradually, commencing at thc centerl or side olli' the room-A, and as dthe lunch trade increases toward the noonhour more lunchcounters are vprovided until the whole space 1s occupied 1nv this manner; or 1n some cases the Wall counters may be left for displaying fruit, candy, cigars or other articles` adapted for sale to the lunch trade. As the luncheon hour draws to a close the lunchcounters 14V may be gradually Withdrawn 'and replaced by the merchandise counters V12 until the store is once more adapted for trade in other commodities. In this Way the space in the front room A is utilized to maximum advantagethroughout the Whole day, and to extend its vuse into the evening a similar interchange of the merchandisingfixtures and food-serving units Will adapt the space for restaurant purposes again.

, In addition to this bi-service plan the system may be extended to cover a still further use of the space in they building during the late evening. As an instance, We may consider thetrucks or carriers as supplied with opera-chairsto provide seating-capacity for audiences at lectures or exhibitions such as moving-picture shows, such extended use being particularly adapted tonstores-or .buildings 'in small communities A In adapting myimproved system for use Yrestaurantror,lunch-room fixtures; While in other'cases the chairs or dayyfurniture such as gymnasium apparatus maybe displaced by beds vvor cots, the latter being stored in more compact Varrangement lin smaller quarters throughoutthe day'. -Variou's other substitutions or interchange Vof furniture, fixtures, apparatus or the like may be made 'in this way, it being understood that such f modifications ofthe; system would fall within the intent andjscope of the invention; In adaptmg a building vfor such contmuous'us'e lit would of course be necessary to supply adequate ventilation' of its rooms, but this may be 4easily accomplished by various` methods noW in general use.

As will be observed from the above description, I have provided a `novel' and ingenious system for a more extensive or continuous use of propertyl and premises Whereby. thejeconomic value thereof may be increased.'- While I haveherein explained the operation of thesystemvmore particularly in relation to the handlingfof food, it is to be understood that Ido not wish to limitl the invention in this respect since it may be applied to other purposes of merchandising or public service. Various modifications in the details of arrangement or construction of the apparatus may also be made Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, and therefore I claim broadly:

l. A convertible merchandisingor service-system comprising `a building, a series of tracks, carriers travelable on thev tracks 'ther-ein, and interchangeable units of furniture and fixtures carried by the carriers.

2. A convertible merchandising or service-system comprising a building, a Series of intercommunicating tracks therein, carriers travela'ble on the tracks, and interchangeable units of lixtures carried by the carriers.

3. A convertible merchandisingor service-system comprising a building, a series of intercommunicating tracks therein, a second series of spur-tracks extending therefrom, carriers travelable on the tracks, and interchangeable units of' fixtures carried by the carriers.

4. In a vconvertible merchandisingor service-system, ka storage space,vav separate space for service, interchangeable units of furniture and fixtures for usein the service-space, and mechanical means for transl space `and l'store forV transferring: the intel. e A

'5o. YInf a` convertible Y* merchandisingor service-system, -the ,combinationjof a build-vl ing divided into seperate spaces,run\vays cxtendingpfrom ione space `'to 'fauliother'7 Ycar- -riers trzwelf.ble' onthe runwaysfffgu'id intere" changeable umts 1l of furniture andjfixturesV carried byfthe carriers.' f

6.. In a convertible merchandising-1hr and means 'travelablebetween the storage-,-

D to' which the store isV to be put: I f Y Y S. I a, Y convertible. merchandising Vvfor service-system," the combination of a serificc-roomh'avng'a series of parallel tracks, a1 storage-space, series offtrack-loop/s in*V the storage-Spacer, .communicating with the j' trucks o in 'I the service-roo:n,. crosfs-overslcon-gl ,o i

nectingl r Seidl ktra-ck loops', truok having" Wheels `travelable on theftreks-and'interf changeable nits l of furniture and fixtures carried by the trucks. o 9.' In :t convertible service-'system, the l combination of a.` service-space, oa, swing?A Y 1'0om,jtracks. arranged in dlepresed'run' ways in theservice-spce, intercommunicat' ing .tracks inthe swingroom, trucks travelable 'on'the tracks' and .having platforms yterchan eable units" "of yfurniture andjfrfix tures o. opted to be carried bythe-trucks, 

